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Camp Nou tie will highlight the biggest challenge Man Utd faces
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer describes it as the "$ 100 million question" – and that could be much more expensive than solving the key problem Manchester United will face tonight, writes James Robson.
Where will the goals of the 1-0 win against Barcelona come in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final?
Man Utd goes to Camp Nou with six goals in as many games, including four defeats.
Against Barca at Old Trafford last week, they failed to record a single shot on target.
And while Lionel Messi and his team-mates have been unusually captivated in this first leg – forcing Luke Shaw to give it a slim goal – United can not expect the same as the Catalan giants play in front of 99,000 in the semifinal.
Solskjaer inherited a disjointed attack – and despite encouraging signs of improvement for Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku, United's early limitations were unveiled in recent weeks.
At least one attacker will be wanted this summer. Jadon Sancho will be the main target and Callum Hudson-Odoi will also be followed.
But Solskjaer needs more consistency from his existing front-run squad, Rashford, Lukaku and Anthony Martial, to have a lengthy lead to make United a true Premier League contender.
That Paul Pogba is United's top scorer with 16 goals this season is revealing – especially since he is the designated penalty taker, with eight of his total to come.
Lukaku, Rashford and Martial have 40.
The 15, including Lukaku, have six players in a series of three hot matches.
Compare that to Manchester City's deadliest trio: Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who combined 69 goals.
Or the first three of Mo Salah in Liverpool, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, who hit 58 as a collective.
The prospect of continuing the top pair of the Premier League is a problem for the future, but finding a way out at Barca is an immediate concern.
And Solskjaer's misleading claim that he does not know where the goals will come tonight is a testament to his concerns over United's attack.
"It's the $ 100 million question," he said. "Who can mark them? That's why the best attackers are the most expensive.
"We've had some decent chances (in the first leg), but when you can not work the goalkeeper, you can not score.
"We know we are going to create chances, we have a goal threat, it's a matter of taking a deep breath and taking those chances.
"We have to score goals and if it's Rom, Jesse (Lingard), Alexis (Sanchez), Marcus, we need great performances.
"Whoever starts when they are on the ground, we want to see a good shape. We were not good enough against them.
It's been 20 years since the famous Solskjaer strike at Camp Nou gave United the Treble and earned it immortality, much of the pre-game discussion focused on this famous night of 1999 and his destiny.
He has little time for such romantic notions – "I think you get what you deserve in the sport" – but how lucky is Alexis Sanchez to enjoy a rare highlight in his career at United after his return to the club that he left to join Arsenal five years ago?
The Chilean has recovered from a knee injury and should start on the bench.
Maybe he could be United's last super-sub-unit, mimicking his manager's success on the same stage.
"Of course, for Alexis, who has been here and played here, when he is on the pitch, he also wants to prove a point for us," added Solskjaer.
"He was injured. He has not had a fantastic season yet and hope he can finish the season in style.
"We are in the business world, the games that Man United plays are used to. We are fighting for a semifinal. Let's hope that Alexis, when he will be on the pitch, will be happy with his performance. "
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